Improvement in lightning-arresters for telegraphs



G. A. STEARNS.

LIGHTNING ARRESTER FOR TELBGRAPHS.

Patented June 21, 1864.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. STEARNS, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND ELIJAH VALENTINE, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN LlGHTNlNG-ARRESTERS FOR TELEGRAPHS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 43,265, dated June 2!, 186;.

ing drawings, forming a part-of this specifics."

tion, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved apparatus Fig.2,asection of the same in the line a: a: of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 a section in the line 3 y of Fig. L

Similarlettersindicatelikeparts in the sev- "eral figures.

It is well known to telegraph operators and others familiar with the working of the electric telegraph that the operation of a line is frequently impeded, and even prevented, by reason of the wires becoming surcharged with atmosheric electricity, inaddition to the current of voltaic electricity by means of which the signals are transmitted over the wires. Serious damage to the telegraphic apparatus, as well as sometimes to the operators themselves, frequently results from this cause, as alsctgreat inconvenience to the public. These inconveniences are experienced particularly during the continuance of a lightning-storm, although they also arise during damp weather. Many eii'orts have been made to obviate these evils by providing an attachment to the ordinary apparatus of a telegraph-oftice, by means of which the atmospheric electricity'may be discharged from the wires without impeding the due passage and operation of the voltaic current; but none of the paratonnerres that have hitherto been invented are perfectly reliable and eiiicient in their operation, inasmuch as none of them afford a continuous conductor for the passage of the atmospheric electricity froin the line-wires to the ground in a separate current from that of the voltaic electricity.

My present invention has for'its object the remedying of this defect, and is based upon the discovery that certain substances-such as charcoal, powdered sulphur, powdered glass, amber, and their equivalentsare good conductors of atmospheric electricity, bntare practically non-conductors of voltaic electricity.

The accompanying drawings represent a practical. application of this discovery to the purpose indicatedpe A represents a 'liase block, of wood, guitapercha, or other suitable non-comlncting sub stance, through which two large openings are cut, as represented in Fig. 3. To the under side of this block is secured a metallic plate, B, of such size as to completely cover both of the openings through the block. Upon the upper side of the block are secured the two metallic plates 0 0, each covering one of the through-openings, and which plates 0 and 0 are made to form part of the linecircuitof the telegraph,

Between the plates BC and B O is placed the charcoal, powdered glass, amber, or other equivalent substance which is agood conduc tor of atmospheric electricity and a non couductor of voltaic electricity. This substance must be in immediate contact with both the upper plates, 0 G, and the lower plate, B, and when charcoal is employed as a conductor I find it preferable to use it in a solid form and to place it with the grain as near as may be perpendicular to the metallic plates.

The paratonnerre may be placed either inside or outside of the telegraph-office. t is provided with suitable binding-posts for the attachment of the various wires. The under plate, 13, may be provided with a tongue, D, which passes aroundone edge of'the base-block A, and is secured to the uppersurface thereof by means of the binding-post 72 with which is connected the ground-wire E, for discharging the. atmospheric electricity into the earth.

The ground-connection may be established in any other suitable manner.

In Fig. 1, (1 represents one of the main-line wires, which is connected withtheinetallic plate 0 by means of the binding-post c. The plate 0 is thus made to form part of the linecircnit, and transmits the voltaic current by means of the small platinum wire 0, binding-post e, and relay-wire a to the registering apparatus.

b represents another line-wire between which and the registering apparatus a metallicconnection is established by means of the bindingposts 9 and j, metallic plate 0', platinum wire c, and relay-wire b. The platinum .wires 0 c,

are of such a size as to conduct no greater current than will the relay-wires a and b.

Theoperation of my paratonnerrc is obvious and very simple. The atmospheric electricity, being conveyed by the linewires to the plate 0 or C, is conducted by the charcoal, or other similar substance to the plate 15, wheiice it is discharged into the earth by menus the ground-wire E, and at the same time the "oltaic current may be in full and uninterrupted operation.

In order to make my improved lightning-arrester more efiicient in discharging violent currents of atmospheric electricity, such as are present during asevere lightning storm, I insert fine metallic wires in the charcoal, or other equivalent substance, in a perpendicular position relative to the plates B and U, and so that they are in contact with oncoi these plates and nearly so with the other.

As this my improved pm'atonnerre arrests not only the 'violent currents, but even the slightest currents of atmospheric electricity, it is plain that its use will obviate the necessity of that-frequent change 0t adjustment which is a source of so much annoyance and trouble to the operator, and which, to b made intelligently,requireslongpracticalexperiencc. Thus the duty of the operator is much simplified.

Having thus fully described my invention.

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. Establishing a communication between the line-circuit of an electric telegraph and the earth by the use of charcoal, powdered glass, powdered amber, powdered sulphur, or other equivalent substancqwhen brought into contactwvith such line'circuii. by means of a suitable apparatus, for the purpose of discharging from the wire all atmospheric electricity before it can be communicated to the registering apparatus, substantially in the manner herein represented and described.

2. When charcoal, powdered glass, powdered amber, powdered sulphur, or other equivalent substance is employed for the purpose above indicated, and in substantially the manner herein described, inserting therein metallic rods or wires, in the manner and for the purpose herein reprcsented and described.

The above specification of my improvement to prevent atmospheric electricity from interfering with the workings of the telegraph signed by me this 4th day of February, A. I). 1864.

HARRAH J. REYNOLDS, M. B. COMFORT. 

